ROLLE, SWITZERLAND — ADM’s regenerative ag program in the United Kingdom has exceeded initial goals due to solid support from farmers across the country, according to the company.

More than 260 farmers have enrolled in the program since its launch in the United Kingdom just more than a year ago, ADM said. The initiative, which focuses first on oilseed crops and milling wheat, supports farmers in implementing practices that help to improve soil health and water quality, promote biodiversity and curb carbon emissions.

UK producers who enroll in ADM’s program receive incentive payments for each hectare farmed using regenerative farming methods and technical support on how best to implement these practices on their farm, such as planting cover crops to support soil health and store more carbon in the soil.

“Farmers understand the important role regenerative agriculture plays in securing the future of their businesses and the planet,” said Jonathan Lane, managing director of ADM Agriculture. “ADM is committed to supporting farmers in our effort to create a more sustainable and resilient food system, and our UK experience gives us confidence as we seek to continue to scale up our efforts globally.”

ADM defines regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based farming approach that protects and improves soil health, biodiversity, climate and water resources while supporting farming business development. After expanding from North America to Europe last year, ADM’s global regenerative agriculture program is targeting 3.5 million acres in 2024 as the company advances toward its new goal of 5 million acres in 2025.

ADM’s regenerative agriculture initiatives in 2023 reduced the company’s Scope 3 GHG footprint and delivered modeled CO₂ sequestration that, in total, was equivalent to removing more than 135,000 cars from the road for a year. Today the company is looking to build on the impact this work already is having and expand in regions, including Europe and Latin America.

ADM works with partners offering remote data collection and validation to give farmers an understanding of their carbon footprint and sustainability performance. The UK program was designed with Map of Agriculture Ltd., an agricultural data platform. That analysis also gives ADM customers insights into the environmental impact of their supply chains, while novel practice verification techniques, such as remote sensing, enable scalable solutions.

UK farmers who are interested in learning more about ADM’s regenerative agriculture program and how they can enroll, should speak to their ADM farm trader or email ClimateSmartuk@adm.com.

Commercial bakeries are among the sectors aiming to support the transition to regenerative agriculture across their grower base. In response, ADM’s regenerative agriculture program promotes the adoption of regenerative practices across its UK grower supply base, which supports its six flour mills across the United Kingdom.

The initiative follows the introduction in 2021 of ADM’s Sustainable Wheat Project, which brings UK farmers together to map their carbon footprints over three years and to identify ways to lower emissions.